Austin, TX Becomes Second City to Enact "Truth in Advertising" Law For CPCs

Austin's City Council approved "truth in advertising" for crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) Thursday, making the capital of Texas the second city in the US to enact the law. The ordinance states that "The Owner or Operator [of a CPC] shall prominently display, at the entrance of the Center, two black and white signs, one in English and one in Spanish, that state as follows: 'This center does not provide abortion or refer to abortion providers. This center does not provide or refer to providers of US Food and Drug Administration approved birth control drugs and medical devices.'" According to The Austin Chronicle, the bill was proposed by Council Member Bill Spelman and co-sponsored by Council Members Laura Morrison and Mike Martinez.

Currently, there are an estimated 3,500 CPCs nationwide, most of which are affiliated with one or more national umbrella organizations. CPCs pose as legitimate health centers and offer "free" pregnancy tests. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and prevent women from receiving neutral and comprehensive medical advice. These clinics are typically run by anti-abortion volunteers who are not licensed medical professionals.

According to The Statesman, Blake Rocap of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas told the council, "If a pregnant woman has decided that she's not going to have an abortion, then this sort of signage isn't going to dissuade her. This [ordinance] just asks the centers to be honest about the services they do and don't provide."

Violators of this law could face Class C misdemeanors handled by Municipal Court and fines of up to $450 per offense, Spelman told The Statesman.

A similar "truth in advertising" bill is being considered in Montgomery County, Maryland. Baltimore became the first city to enact such a law in January 2010. The city of Baltimore is currently being sued by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien said in the Baltimore Sun that the ordinance violates the CPCs' First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion, and it "is hurting the good people volunteering and giving so much of their resources to come to the help of pregnant women."

2/27/2015 This Bipartisan Bill Will Hold Colleges Accountable for Ending Campus Sexual Assault - A bipartisan bill aimed at holding colleges and universities accountable for rape and sexual assault cases was introduced in Congress yesterday, spearheaded by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Some of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act's key key provisions include a requirement of confidential reporting systems on colleges and universities, minimum training requirements for campus personnel, and stricter penalties for schools found to be in violation of Title IX or the Clery Act. . . .

2/26/2015 If This Bill Passes Federal Law Will Add Consent to Sex Ed Curriculums - Right now, federal law does not require health or sex education to include sexual assault prevention - but that could change with a new bill introduced by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Tim Kaine (D-VA).
The Teach Safe Relationships Act of 2015, which was introduced earlier this month, would require all public secondary schools in the country to include teaching "safe relationship behavior" in order to help prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. . . .